NCAA Division III wrestling is a world unto itself. It is such a different world than that of NCAA Division I, NAIA & NJCAA. It has similarities to NCAA Division II, but even with those similarities, it has far, far more contrasts. When I do preseason previews for NJCAA, NAIA & DI, I am more or less trying to configure who it is I think who all will fight for qualification by year's end. I think it makes a lot more sense at the Division III level to extend the preview into who all I think will fight for Regional placement. With 125 wrestlers (give or take) per weight & only 18 qualifiers, there's really no other way to do it.
If you're an outsider to NCAA DIII wrestling to talk up 56 wrestlers in a single weight class may seem like overkill, but I assure you it's not. Humorously enough, I know those in the know of DIII wrestling will probably get on me for those I forget to include. Also keep in mind, this is covering returnees only! We still have incoming freshmen we'll discuss at another time!
Let's dive into 125 D3 Returnees!
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| Joziah Fry Johnson & Wales |
He keeps going on the route he's going, we could very well be looking at one of the greatest NCAA DIII wrestlers of all time. Certainly one of the best to ever come out of the state of Rhode Island anyway. The Wildcat went a stunning 43-0 last season, which included 12 falls, 12 technical falls & 15 major decisions. He even has a 7-6 win over DI qualifier Ethan Berginc of Army. While nothing is a shoe-in & he did have some 1 & 2 point matches last year, the junior will look to repeat as national champion.
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| Jacob Decatur Baldwin Wallace |
Hot on the trail of Fry will be 2022 NCAA DIII champion Jacob Decatur of Baldwin Wallace who settled for runner-up honors last season. The two time Central Regional champion went 27-2 on the season last year.
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| Christian Guzman Julian Valtierrez North Central |
It's a shame that DIII doesn't have the same rules as does NAIA, or we might very well see two All Americans from North Central. Christian Guzman was 32-5 on the season last year, 3rd in NCAA DIII, a Lower Midwest Regional champion & 2nd at the Pete Willson Invitational. Doesn't it blow your mind that one of his toughest matches this year will be duking it out with Julian Valtierrez for the varsity spot? No stranger to success himself, Valtierrez won titles at both the North Central Invite as well as the UW-Platteville Pointer Open. His 20-6 season included victories over R12 Luca Paladino, R12 Luke Hoerle & Derek Steele who was an Upper Midwest Champion in 2022. Not to mention he nearly majored NCAA DII 7th place finisher Shane Corrigan.
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| Jake Craig Southern Maine |
Only a sophomore, the future looks very bright for this Husky. 26-5 last year as a freshman, this included a 4th place finish at the DIII championships, a 2nd place finish at the Northeast Regional & a 3rd place finish at the Roger Williams Invitational. Of the few who were able to give Fry a match last season, Craig took him to a 9-6 decision. What really impresses me about Craig is his ability to turn losses around. He lost to Gavin Bradly 6-4 & then turned around and nearly teched him 14-3. Making even shorter work the next time around with a 2:28 fall.
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| Zac Blasioli Millikin |
A lot of highlights for Zac Blasioli on the '22-'23 season. A Lower Midwest Regional runner-up, he looked outstanding at the Pete Willson Invitational winning a rather loaded bracket. 28-5 on the season, he took Fry to a 3-1 match.
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| Mason Barrett Averett |
The Cougar often keeps his matches really close, but at the end of the day a W is still a W. A Southeastern Regional champ, Barrett was 6th in the DIII nation, taking runner-up honors at the newly reformed Old Dominion Athletic Conference. He was 28-7 on the season.
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| Brady Koontz Dubuque |
Perhaps the arrow Fry & Decatur ought to be most concerned being pointed at their back is NCAA DII 7th place finisher Brady Koontz of Dubuque. 3rd in the Lower Midwest Regional, all of his losses in his 18-3 season were by a single point. This includes a 3-2 loss to Fry.
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| Joey Lamparelli Muhlenberg |
The two time Mideast Regional runner-up found the DIII award stand last year with an 8th place finish. He was also able to capture a championship at the Centennial Conference, having finished 3rd in 2022. Going into his senior season, he was 30-10 on the year.
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| Luke Hoerle Stevens Tech |
An NCAA DIII qualifier in 2021, Luke Hoerle was able to return to the championships last season with a 3rd place finish at the Southeast Regional. 26-6 on the year, he was also a Ned McGinley Invitational champion, taking runner-up honors at the Middle Atlantic Conference.
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| Luca Paladino UW-Stevens Point |
Paladino made leaps & bounds last season, turning a 12-13 freshman season into a 25-9 sophomore season. This included going from finishing 6th in the Upper Midwest Regional as a freshman, to winning the tournament last year as a sophomore. Other highlights included picking up bronze medals at both the UW-Platteville Pointer Open & the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
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| James Day Wabash |
Only a sophomore, James Day finished his rookie season a very impressive 27-5. This included being a match shy of DIII All American honors & a runner-up finish at the Central Regional. Among his victories, a 6-4 decision over Guzman.
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| Cody Merwin SUNY-Cortland |
One match shy of NCAA qualification as a freshman in 2022, Cody Merwin punched that ticket with a 3rd place finish at the Mideast Regional last season. Also 7th at the Pete Willson Invitational, he was 20-11 on the year.
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| Cade Odrobina Albion |
Talk about a guy that knows how to turn things around. Holy cow! If you have a wrestler on your team that is struggling & you're looking for someone to inspire him/her, look no further than Cade Odrobina. This guy started the season off with a 3-9 record. He turned that into a 17-14 record & an NCAA DIII qualification with a 3rd place finish at the Central Regional. Talk about tenacity.
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| Jacob Blair Delaware Valley |
23-13 on the season last year, sophomore Jacob Blair took runner-up honors at both the Southeast Regional & the Racich Rumble. He was 5th at the Middle Atlantic Conference.
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| Luc Valdez UW-Oshkosh |
5th at the Upper-Midwest Regional in 2022, Luc Valdez took runner-up honors this past season. He also once again made the WIAC finals, this time trading in the silver medal he earned in 2022, for a gold. 25-11 on the year.
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| Brandon Murphy UW-La Crosse |
You can't help but be a fan of the underdog Brandon Murphy. 12-14 in 2022 & 12-16 this past season, the Eagle has managed to qualify for the DIII championships with a losing record. 3rd in the Upper Midwest Regional, he took runner-up honors at the WIAC.
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| Gavin Bradley Castleton |
Bradley had a stellar showing as a freshman last season, going 33-11, qualifying for the NCAA DIII championships with a 3rd place finish at the Northeast Regional. Finishing one match shy of earning All American honors, he took 4th place finishes at both the Roger Williams Invite & the Ithaca Invite.
He will be backed up by Dominick Diedrick, a tough wrestler in his own right who owns a 6-4 s.v. over Ryan Berstler.
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| Danny Poggi SUNY-Oneonta |
22-18 on the season, Danny Poggi was 4th at both the Mideast Regional & the ECWC.
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| Riley Parker Washington & Lee |
If you want a testimony to just how tough & competitive DIII wrestling is, take into account that 2022 6th place All American Riley Parker of Washington & Lee finished one match shy of qualification last season. 4th in the Southeast Regional, he won titles at both the Messiah Open & the ODAC. Among his victories, he defeated Mason Barrett twice by scores of 3-1 & 4-0 as well as Southeastern Regional champion Terry Adams of Ursinus 5-3, who has since graduated.
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| Jack Stanley Mount Union |
A two time NCAA DIII qualifier who was R12 in 2022, Jack Stanley came up just a hair short of his third NCAA DIII qualification last season when he finished 4th in the Central Regional. 23-6 on the season, he finished 4th at the Pete Willson Invitational.
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| Joey Manginelli Springfield |
A two time NCAA DIII qualifier in his own right, who was also R12 in 2022, I was quite surprised when Joey Manginelli came up short of his third qualification this past season. One of the many examples of just how unforgiving DIII wrestling can be in terms of who goes to the dance and who stays home. In one of the toughest Regionals, it'll be as much of a fight this season as it was last.
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| Jared Kuhns York (PA) |
If I'm asked to give my opinion on the best 125 lbs seniors yet to make the NCAA DIII tournament, somewhere near the top of that list is Jared Kuhns. The guy knows how to win. He's proven that with wins such as a 4-3 victory over Manginelli & a 4-3 victory over Hoerle. He also defeated Jacob Blair, major decision 11-3. He just falls a little short come Regional time, having finished 4th & 5th the past two Southeastern championships. 36-8 on the year, he won his second Middle Atlantic Conference title as well as a Racich Rumble title.
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| Austin Fashouer Wilkes |
2nd in the Southeastern Regional in 2022, Austin Fashouer came up a little short of his second NCAA DIII qualification when he finished in 6th place last year. 3rd in the MAC, he had a 5-2 victory over Jacob Blair.
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| Derek Steele Augsburg |
An Upper-Midwest Regional Champion in 2022, Derek Steele was 4th last season. He ended the year with a 19-9 record.
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| Taisei Karachi NYU |
31-15 on the season, Taisei Karachi finished one match shy of NCAA DIII qualification when he took 4th place at the Northeast Regional. Among his victories, a 10-2 major decision over Luke Hoerle & a 2-0 decision over Joey Manginelli.
The future pharmacist was 25-7 on the year, capturing a 5th place showing at the Central Regional & a title at the Ohio Northern Invitational. Within the conference has quite a bit of competition, but seems to have Zach Phifer's # as he defeated him twice by scores of 7-2 & 4-2.
Here's another guy that completely turned things around last season. James Levy only won three matches as a freshman. Last year as a sophomore, he won 17. This included a 5th place finish at the Lower Midwest Regional & pinning James Day at the 3:33 mark.
Definitely seems to have a gas tank on him & I think that will serve him well as he harnesses in on his strength and technique. 24-21 on the season, he was 5th in the Upper Midwest Regional.
Thode was 25-5 on the season, winning titles at both the Ken Oberman Memorial as well as the East Stroudsburg Open, which mind you, was against all NCAA DII competition. Was 5th at the Mideast Regional.
Hamulak was only 7-6 on the year but nevertheless he was still able to manage capturing his second Upper Midwest Regional medal (was 8th in '22) with a 6th place finish. 5 of those 7 wins were via fall.
14-8 on the season, Zach Phifer was 6th in the Central Regional.
The Blue Streak was 12-12 on the season, capturing a 7th place finish at the Central Regional.
31-14 on the season, Ryan Berstler goes into his senior season having placed 7th at the Mideast Regional & 3rd at the ECWC last year.
19-14 on the year, Tanner Thatcher was 7th at the Northeast regional finishing one match shy of placing at the Racich Rumble.
The Montana native went 16-13 in his rookie season picking up his first Lower Midwest Regional medal with a 7th place showing.
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| Colin Mellott Ohio Northern |
The future pharmacist was 25-7 on the year, capturing a 5th place showing at the Central Regional & a title at the Ohio Northern Invitational. Within the conference has quite a bit of competition, but seems to have Zach Phifer's # as he defeated him twice by scores of 7-2 & 4-2.
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| James Levy Wartburg |
Here's another guy that completely turned things around last season. James Levy only won three matches as a freshman. Last year as a sophomore, he won 17. This included a 5th place finish at the Lower Midwest Regional & pinning James Day at the 3:33 mark.
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| Carter Schulz UW-Eau Claire |
Definitely seems to have a gas tank on him & I think that will serve him well as he harnesses in on his strength and technique. 24-21 on the season, he was 5th in the Upper Midwest Regional.
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| Jack Thode Centenary |
Thode was 25-5 on the season, winning titles at both the Ken Oberman Memorial as well as the East Stroudsburg Open, which mind you, was against all NCAA DII competition. Was 5th at the Mideast Regional.
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| Jake Hamulak Chicago |
Hamulak was only 7-6 on the year but nevertheless he was still able to manage capturing his second Upper Midwest Regional medal (was 8th in '22) with a 6th place finish. 5 of those 7 wins were via fall.
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| Zach Phifer Adrian |
14-8 on the season, Zach Phifer was 6th in the Central Regional.
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| Eddie Wallace John Carroll |
The Blue Streak was 12-12 on the season, capturing a 7th place finish at the Central Regional.
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| Ryan Berstler Penn Tech |
31-14 on the season, Ryan Berstler goes into his senior season having placed 7th at the Mideast Regional & 3rd at the ECWC last year.
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| Tanner Thatcher WPI |
19-14 on the year, Tanner Thatcher was 7th at the Northeast regional finishing one match shy of placing at the Racich Rumble.
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| Jase Van Pelt Cornell (IA) |
The Montana native went 16-13 in his rookie season picking up his first Lower Midwest Regional medal with a 7th place showing.
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| Kaden Majcher Lycoming |
Kaden Majcher was 7th in the Southeast Regional last season. Among his victoreis a 10-6 decision over Joey Manginelli.
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| Adrian Samano Ferrum |
The Panther had a very respectable start to his career last year as he picked up an 8th place finish at the Southeast Regional & a 4th place finish at the ODAC.
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| Donovan Ortiz Ohio Wesleyan |
The Florida native was 16-9 on the season, capturing an 8th place finish at the Central Regional.
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| Alex DuFour McDaniel |
Going 25-19 on the season, Alex DuFour became a two-time Mideast Regional place-winner capturing an 8th place finish. He was 6th in 2022.
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| Jabari Pinkney Norwich |
21-16 on the season, the Cadet was 8th in the Northeast Regional.
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| Thomas Turner Pacific (OR) |
Turner went 16-15 last season as a freshman placing 8th at the Upper Midwest Regional.
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| Ryan Rosenthal TCNJ |
We talk often about how difficult it is to qualify for the NCAA DIII championships. How about how difficult it is just to place top 8 within the Regional? Ryan Rosenthal went 0-2 at the Mideast Regional last season. However during the regular season he defeated Mideast Regional champ Terry Dams 3-2 tiebreaker. He also defeated Jack Stanley 7-3 & James Day 4-3. Just goes to show you how important it is in D3 wrestling, not to have an off day.
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| Fred Luchs Rhodes Island College |
9-2 on the season last year, Luchs pinned Jack Thode in 56 seconds.
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| Matt Haycook Ithaca |
Matt Haycook came up a little short of a medal at the Mideast Regional, but he was able to secure a runner-up finish at the ECWC, after winning the title in 2022. He defeated Danny Poggi twice, 4-1 & by fall at 4:47. He also had a 4-0 victory over Ryan Rosenthal.
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| Connor Kidd Luther |
Had it not been for injury & having to medical Forfeit out of the Lower Midwest Regional, we'd probably be talking about Connor Kidd as a place-winner. The Norseman went 23-9 last season as a freshman.
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| Ellex Williams Augustana (IL) |
Not sure if Ellex Williams will be back for this season or not. A 2021 NWCA qualifier, he was 8th at the Lower Midwest Regional in 2022. He did not participate last season, but should still have a season of eligibility left.
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| Shelton Chastain Ozarks |
22-17 on the season, Shelton Chastain was 8th at the Pete Willson invitational.
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| Gas Petruske IV King's |
5th at the Southeast Regional in 2022, Gus Petruske came up a little short of a second Regional medal this past season. A two time Middle Atlantic Conference place-winner, he's thus far finished 3rd & 4th, as he'll look for a third medal this year. He was also 4th in the Racich Rumble last year.
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| Mac Cafurello Roanoke |
6th at the Southeast Regional as a freshman in 2022, Mac Cafurello did not have a good regional last year. Where he did shine was both at the ODAC & the Pete Willson Invitational where he took 3rd place finishes.
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| Keito Shaw Alvernia |
Inconsistency seems to be a bit of an issue with Keito Shaw. 5th in the Southeast Regional as a freshman, he came up short of a medal in 2023. 3rd & 6th thus far in the MAC, he defeated Jacob Blair 7-4.
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| Evan Whiteside Thiel |
19-5 on the season last year, I can most certainly see Evan Whiteside contending for Southeast Regional placement this season.
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| Kie Anderson Concordia (MN) |
Anderson was only 11-9 last year as a freshman, but among those 11 victories a 4:02 fall over Mac Cafurello & a 5th place finish at the Pete Willson Invitational.
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| Jalen Dunson UW-Whitewater |
25-20 on the season, Jalen Dunson was 5th at the WIAC & 7th at the Upper Midwest Regional.
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| Tyler Klein UW-Whitewater |
Another Warhawk I believe deserves mention is Tyler Klein. He'll most certainly challenge Dunson for the starting position this year, as many of their meetings last season were quite close, including a 7-6 tiebreaker in favor of Dunson. Klein may have only been 14-16 on the year, but he can definitely perform when the lights are on. He handed Decatur a 5-3 s.v. loss.
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| Nolan McKittrick UW-Platteville |
17-13 on the season, Nolan McKittrick had a 9-3 decision over Luc Valdez.
